NEW DELHI: Indian star batter Rishabh Pant on Saturday delivered a moment of brilliance on day four of the rain-interrupted first Test between India and New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
With India battling back from a dismal first-innings total, Pant unleashed a monstrous 107-meter six off Tim Southee, leaving fans and players alike stunned.
The spectacular shot came during the 87th over.Southee, using the new ball to create pressure, bowled a length delivery, but Pant had other ideas.
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The fearless batter went down on one knee and slog-swept the ball deep over square leg, sending it out of the ground.
Even New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips, stationed on the boundary, could only watch in disbelief as the ball sailed over the ropes.
Pant’s audacity and power gave the Indian innings much-needed momentum.
However, the thrill didn’t last long. Just two overs later, the southpaw fell heartbreakingly short of a century, bowled by William O’Rourke for 99.
Pant’s dismissal came in the 89th over when he misjudged the bounce of the second new ball.
O’Rourke’s delivery kicked up unexpectedly from a good length, surprising Pant on the defence. The ball took the inside edge and rattled the stumps, leaving Pant one run shy of a well-deserved hundred.
As Pant walked back to the pavilion, disappointed but applauded by fans, India found themselves effectively at 433/5. With KL Rahul also dismissed just before tea, India ended the session at 438/6, holding a slender 82-run lead. Ravindra Jadeja remained unbeaten on 4.